Debarking machine



July 23, 1963 c. w. KENDRlCK 3,098,512

DEBARKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 326 560 ava J 5INVENTOR July 23, 1963 c. w. KENDRICK 3,09

DEBARKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIHIIIIIIIIIIHHII3/ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS I. f? I y 3, 1963 c. w. KENDRICK 3,

DEBARKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. 64a///@/me/a July 23, 1963 c. w. KENDRICK 3,

DEBARKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR (5/21///1%me/a wzww ATTORNEYJ m 4 /2 m M The present invention relates toimprovements in post debarking machines of the kind having a rotatabledrum with bark peeling members pivotally carried adjacent the peripheryof the drum. 'It more particularly relates to a specific drum supportand drive arrangement, blade mounting and actuating mechanism and theportable nature of the complete debarking machine.

Although peeling type debarking machines have been previously used,generally they require some relatively expensive or complex drivearrangement and the means for engaging and driving the post through thedrum usually involves providing substantial pressure between the feedrolls and the logs which is not always compensated properly relative tothe size and weight of the logs being peeled which, of course, effectsthe feed action of the feed rollers. Previously known devices haveutilized centrifugally responsive Weights which tend to vary the forceof the bark peeling blades against a log being driven through the knifeassembly drum. Insofar as is known, most of such centrifugallyresponsive devices utilize a resilient connection between thecentrifugal weight and the blade member and, in some cases, thisresilient connection is adjustable. Nevertheless, whether it isadjustable or not, the presence of such a resilient connection in amachine which is subjected to rugged, hard usage is just one otherfactor requiring shutdown and replacement. The more simple centrifugallyresponsive peeling blade construction of the present invention is animprovement over such prior art assemblies.

Although portability is normally merely a matter of reducing the size ofan item and placing it on wheels or in some manner providing for itsadaptability to easy transportation from location to location, in thisinstance portability has been found to be a very definite asset evenwithin a mill yard, inasmuch as the debarking machine may be hauled by atractor within the mill yard from pile to pile of unbarked posts andpulp logs, the tractor power in such case being readily available tofurnish the power from one of its power takeofis to drive the peelingdrum and feed rollers of the portable debarking machine. Furthermore,the portable machine of this invention can be easily pulled by a smallvehicle into a forest and the posts and poles clebarked at the site ofthe cutting, leaving the bark chips spread on the forest floor to helpreplenish the forest land. Disadvantages of prior art debarking machinesoften resided in the complex drive trains which in many cases haveutilized chain or belt drives in close proximity to the peeling drum.The primary disadvantage of chain and belt drives close to the peelingdrum is that during operation bark chips fly and fall in the areaimmediately around the drum, often jamming in the chains or belts andcausing machine breakdowns or shutdowns.

Previously known machines for debarking posts and poles, insofar asapplicant is aware, generally cannot completely clean the post of thecellular membrane between bark and wood. Since this membrane isimpervious to materials used in treating such posts, whenever thedebarked post is to be treated the post must be subjected to a furtheroperation to assure that all of the impervious membrane is removed. Themachine of the present invention effectively removes all of the bark andthe impervious membrane with negligible, if any, destruction of the woodunder that layer.

Accordingly, a primary object or" the present inven- 3,ll98,5l2 PatentedJuly 23, 1963 tion resides in the provision of a novel relatively simpleyet extremely rugged post debarking machine.

A further object resides in the provision of a novel simple postdebarking machine having common drive means to the peeling drum and feedrolls together with provision for independently controlling thetransmission ratio to the peeling drum and to the feed rolls and havingan input connection adapted to be connected to the power drive device.

A further object resides in a novel combination rotatable mounting andpower transmission device for a debarking peeling drum assembly.

Still another object resides in the provision of a novel debarkingpeeling drum assembly with input and output feed roller devices mountedfor self adjustment to the size of a post being fed into the machine. Inconjunction with this object, it is a further object to provide multipledrive paths to the input and output feed rollers operable through acommon transfer gear housing.

Another object resides in the provision of a novel drum type of postdeba'rker in which the drum is rotatably mounted with resilient give inboth an axial and radial sense relative to a normal axial and radialposition.

A still further object in conjunction with the preceding objects residesin the provision of an equilateral rubbertired drive wheel arrangementproviding a position and rotatable mounting for a channel shaped annularrim on a debarking peeling drum assembly and wherein at least one of therubber-tired wheels is drive connected through a transmission mechanismhaving an input connection adapted to be connected to a power drivendevice Still another object resides in providing a rotatable knife drumassembly having at least one bark peeling member movable toward and awayfrom the surface of the log, the bark peeling member being centrifugallypressed against the log in response to centrifugal forces developed byrotation of the drum and having a counterbalance weight having apositive connection with the bark peeling member. In connection withthis object, it is a further object to provide'an abutment stop deviceon the drum for. each of the bark peeling members adjacent theirrespective pivots and adapted to be abutted by an associated peelingmember to prevent radial inward swinging movement of the bark peelingmember to the axis of the drum so that a plurality of such bark peelingmembers cannot move into engagement with each other.

In connection with the preceding object, it is a further object toprovide a curved blade, bark peeling member having one end pivoted on adog leg shaft, one leg which is p votally mounted on the inner peripheryof a peeling drum rim parallel to the drum axis and its other legextending transversely to a radius through the axis of the drum andhaving a counterweight slipped over and maintained in selectivelyadjust-able position on the second dog leg, and an abutment plate memberrigidly secured to the dog leg shaft and adapted to engage the outerside of and bias the peeling member inwardly when the drum is rotatedand the counterweight develops centrifugal force.

A still further object resides in the provision of a novel preliminaryinfeed centering and guiding mechanism for posts being introduced to theprimary infeed and guiding rollers, which adapts the debarking machineto an automated operation wherein a conveyor belt can feed logs into themachine.

Further novel features and other objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, discussion and theappended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingsshowing a preferred structure and embodiment, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of theportable debarking machine hitched to the rear end of a tractor, a partof which can be seen;

FIGURE 2 is a simplified side elevation view of the peeling drum and thethree rubber rimmed mounting wheels, one of which is a drive wheel;

FIGURE 3 is a section view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the input feed rollersin front of the peeling drum assembly, the weights being deleted tromthe drum for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail view of the peeling drum assembly as seenfrom the front with the centrifugally responsive weights and peelingmember actuators shown;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIGURE 5 illustrating themounting of a bark peeling or removing member on the drum rim;

FIGURE 7 is a detail exploded perspective showing part of the peelingwheel, one blade and the associated centrifugal weight;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view or the drive train illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 (on sheet 2) is a section view through a weight illustratingits components and the manner in which it is assembled on a jig plate;

FIGURE 10 is a schematic illustrating the relationship between the bladepeeling end and a post being peeled;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view of the blade peeling end to show thedesired edge curvature;

FIGURE 12 is a schematic side view illustrating a sec ond embodiment ofthe debarking machine in which a preliminary post centering mechanism isutilized ahead of the inlet feed and guide rollers, and in which leafsprings are used in lieu of coil springs to bias the feed rolls againstthe posts;

FIGURE 13 is a front detail view illustrating the preliminary feed roll,guide roll, trough land equalizer linkage; and v FIGURE 14 is aschematic view somewhat like FIG- URE 8 illustrating the use of a smallself contained en gine on the portable machine and also illustrating ameans to provide an additional drive takeofi for the preliminarycentering feed roll.

Machine Chassis and Frame With reference to the drawings, the portabledebarking machine 10 is best illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein the machineis illustrated as having its draw bar 12 coupled to the hitch (notshown) of a tractor 14. Drive power for the debarking machine isfurnished from a power takeoff at the rear of tractor 14 through a driveshaft 16 universally coupled by coupling 18 to an input stub shaft 2i onthe portable machine 10.

Debarlcing machine 10 consists of a base chassis 22 constructed of aseries of longitudinal channel beams 24, 26, 27, diagonal front endbraces 28 and 29 and cross braces 30 and 31. The middle longitudinalchannel 12 extends completely through the chassis and its forward endconstitutes the draw bar 12 for the portable debarker. Secured in aconventional manner under the chassis 22 is a straight axle (not shown)which rotatably journals ground engaging wheels 34.

The front of the debarking machine is the side which faces the viewer inFIGURE 1 and is disposed at the right hand side of the machine chassis22. Extending in spaced apart and vertical relationship from the chassischannel 26 are two heavy channel members 36 and 38. A pair of spacedapart intermediate vertical channel members 40 and 42 are verticallydisposed on the middle chassis beam 24 and secured rigidly thereto as bywelding. A rear set of spaced apart vertical channel beams 44 and 46 arerigidly welded to the rear longitudinal chassis channel 27 in alignmentbehind the front vertical channels 36 and 38.

Peeling Mounting Assembly A debarking peeling drum 50 is mounted withits axis horizontally disposed normal to the longitudinal chassis beams24, 26 and 27 and spaced essentially midway of the height of thevertical support beams 36-46. The axis of drum "50 is located to extendmidway between the spaced apart sets of vertical channel beams, and thedrum 5%) is ro-tatably maintained in a fixed position by cooperationbetween its channel rim and three equi laterally arranged rubber-tiredwheels 52, 54 and 56. The drum 50 and the three wheels 52, S4 and 56 areessentially co-planar and disposed in the space between the frontvertical channels 36 and 38 and the intermediate set of verticalchannels 40 and 42. Wheel 52, near the front of chassis 22, constitutesa powered drive wheel and accordingly has its hub 53 secured in aconventional manner to the drive flange of a driving axle, to be laterdescribed. The other lower wheel 54 is an idler wheel rotatably mountedby conventional wheel bearings (not shown) on a non-driving lame whichcan be rigidly secured on top of and transverse to the centerlongitudinal chassis channel 24 by welding or by any conventionalclamping device.

As can be seen in FIGURE 1, the peeling drum 5%) has its annularperiphery formed with a channel shaped cross section which fits over thetreads of both the driving tire on and the tire 62 on idler wheel 54.The upper idler wheel 56 is rotatably mounted on a fixed axle 64 whichextends laterally midway between the intermediate vertical channels 4dand 42 and rear vertical channels 44 and 46. Axle 64- is rigidly securedas by welding to support blocks '66 and to cross channels 68, 69 and713. The two cross channels 68 and 69 are firmly clamped in a horizontaldisposition to the intermediate set of vertical channels it? and 42 bybolts 72, whereas the rear horizontal cross channel 70 is secured bybolts 74 to the front flanges of the rear set of vertical channels 44and 46. These bolts can be secured in slots cut in the front flange ofchannels 44 and 46, permitting vertical adjustment of the rearhorizontal cross beam 78. The two front cross beams 68 and 69 can bevertically adjusted by loosening the bolts 72. In this manner, axle 64-of the upper idler wheel 56 can be vertically adjusted to providepressure of its tire 76 against the drum 50 which equaliz/es again-stthe driving wheel 52 and lower idler wheel 54. Cooperation between thetires and the peeling drum rim maintains the drum in both axial andradial positions.

As illustrated, wheels 52, 54 and 56 are conventional truck wheelscarrying pneumatically inflated tires. It is to be understood that, inlieu of the tires 60, 62 and 76, solid rubber rims could be utilized onall three of the equilaterally arranged drum supporting and drivingwheels. However, in such case the cushioning effect of the pneumatictires on the peeling drum, in both an axial and a radial direction,would not be present. Specific details of the debarking drum and itsplurality of peeling blade members will be described hereinafter, itbeing apparent at this point of the description that a log to bedebarked is introduced coaxial through the drum 56 from the front of themachine shown in FIGURE 1.

Feed and Guide Mechanism When a log is introduced into the debarkingmachine, an operator places the log on support roller 80 which has achannel shaped circumference tending to center any log placed thereonand headed in toward the peeling drum 50. Support roller 80 is rotatablyjournaled on a stub axle 82 fixed in the end of a pivotally mountedlever arm 84 made of heavy channel beam. The rear end of arm 84 has asmall plate 86 secured thereto as by bolts, plate 86 having an aperturetherein which is pivotally disposed over the end of an equalizer shaft88, the equalizer shaft 88 in turn being pivotally mounted horizontallyacross the front flanges of the front set of vertical channel members 36and 38 in pillow block bearings 90 and 92 bolted to the verticalchannels 36 and 38. Plate 86 is maintained on the end of shaft 88 by acollar 94 which is secured as by a set screw to the equalizer shaft 88.The support roller 80 and its mounting lever 84 are resilientlysupported by a heavy coil tension spring 96, one end of which is hookedinto a spring anchor 98 secured on the outside of vertical beam 36. Theother end of spring '96 hooks into a length of a chain use having an endanchored in the support roller lever 84 adjacent its front end. Whenlight weight logs are placed on the support roller 80 and rolledhorizontally toward the debarking drum Sit, they should be essentiallycoaxial with the deb-arking drum 50. When heavier logs are placed on thesupport roller 80, the spring force of coil spring 96 should be such asto permit a downward movement of lever 84 due to the weight of the logjust enough so the heavier log will be maintained in a horizontalposition essentially coaxial with the debarking drum 50. Although thistype of preliminary support is inexpensive, the preferred preliminaryinfeed support is as shown in FIGURES 12 and 13, which will be laterdescribed.

As the leading end of a log is moved toward the debarking drum 50 itwill engage between two lateral guiding rollers 192 and 104 having aconcave cross section periphery. These two rollers 102 and 16'4- arespring loaded to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 and the end of alog introduced between the two rollers will shift both of the rollersequally about an offset vertical support axis to permit passage of thelog, while the force of the spring loading on rollers 102 and 104 and anequalizing linkage 1115 will tend to maintain lateral centering of thelog. As the log passes between these lateral guide rollers, the rollersmove toward a position intermediate the toothed feed rollers (see FIGURE3).

The support and spring loading mechanism for both of the two rollers 102and 164 are identical and only one set will be described. Roller 1112 isrotatably mounted on a vertical short stub shaft 106 which projectsupwardly at the free end of a pivotally mounted lateral plate 198.Roller 162 is maintained on the stub shaft by means of a washer and anut 110 The pivoted end of lateral plate 11. 8 includes a verticalmounting shaft 112, the ends of which project through bearing collars(or pillow block bearings) 114 and 11-6 Welded or bolted on the insideof the associated vertical beam 36. Shaft 112 is maintained axially injournaling position in the collars 114- and 116 by suitable collars 118rigidly fastened to the projecting ends of the shaft 112 as by setscrews.

Resilient biasing of the roller 1132 is provided by a wire spring 121)which has two legs encircling upper and lower portions of shaft 112, abight which engages the rear side of lateral plate 11 58, and two freelegs which are disposed under a T-anchor 122 which is welded orotherwise secured to the front flange of vertical channel 36. As beforenoted, the roller 104 is mounted in an identical manner on the inside ofthe right hand front vertical channel 318. It is herein noted that anidentical set of lateral guide rollers 124 and 126 are disposed betweenthe intermediate vertical channels 41 and 42 providing lateral guide onthe outlet side of the debarking drum these two lateral guide outletrollers 124 and 126 being mounted in a manner as described for roller1112. The equalizer linkage 165 (FIGURE 2) consists of horizontal bars127 and 128 welded to the upper ends of lateral guide roller supportshafts and having their adjacent ends articulatively connected by linkplates 129.

Disposed behind the lateral inlet guide rollers 1112 and 164, onhorizontal axes midway between the front set of vertical channels 36 and38 and the inlet side of the debarking drum 50, are two inlet feed andlog gripping rollers 130 and 132, preferably of cylindrical shape. Eachof these feed rollers 135i} and 132 hasplural rows of sharp steel teeth134 rigidly secured in their periphery intermediate the ends of therollers. The horizontal axes of each of the rollers 130 and 132 arerespectively disposed equidistances above .and below the axis of thedebarking drum 50 and the rollers are journaled in an equalizingassembly, as will now be described. i

The equalizing support for the input feed rollers and 132 includes theaforenoted lower equalizer shaft 88 and an upper equalizer shaft 14%having its ends projected through and pivotally mounted in pillow blocks142 and 144 secured to the front flanges of vertical channels 36 and 38above the lower equalizer shaft pillow blocks 90 and 92. Two lever arms1146 and 148 are rigidly secured to the lower equalizer shaft 3% as bywelding and extend rearwardly toward the deba-rking drum 50. The ends ofthese two lever arms 146 and 148 journal a horizontal lower input feedroll shaft 150 which is axially maintained in position by collars 152and 154 disposed on the inner sides of lever arms 146 and 148 andsecured as by set screws to the shaft 150. Intermediate the two leverarms 146 and 148, the feed wheel 132 is non-rotatably secured as by aspline disposed in the keyway 156. Feed r-oll 132 can be axially securedon shaft 150' by suitable set screw arrangements. As seen in FIGURE 4,the right hand end of feed roll drive shaft 150 projects beyond thevertical beam 38 and carries one half of a universal fitting, the otherhalf 162 being secured to the end of :a driven shaft 164, as will bemore fully described hereinafter.

The upper equalizer shaft 140 also has two rearwardly projected leverarms 168 and 170 rigidly secured thereto as by welding. The extremitiesof these two lever arms 168 and 170 rotatably carry the driving shaft172 for the upper input feed roll 130, which shaft is axially maintainedin the lever arms 168 and 170 in a manner similar to that previouslydescribed for the lower feed roll shaft 159. As seen in FIGURE 4, theright hand end of upper feed roll shaft 172 also terminates in one half174 of a universal fitting, the other half 176 of which is secured tothe end of a driven stub shaft 178. Rotation of the two shafts 164 and178 in opposite directions results in opposite directional rotation ofthe two input feed rolls 132 and 130 and the feed roll teeth 134 willgrip and drive a log, the end of which is introduced into abutment withthe input side of the feed rolls. The teeth of these feed rolls alsofirmly grip the log and prevent rotation of the log as it enters thedebarking drum 50.

As the log is drawn between the two feed rolls 130 and 132, the rollsmust spread apart in order to accommodate varying diameters of logswhich are being debarked. To accommodate this spreading apart of the twofeed rolls, and still maintain a vertical relationship of the path ofthe log so the log will be introduced coaxially through the debarkingdrum 50, equalizing linkages interconnect between the two equalizingshafts 88 and 140. These linkages can be clearly seen in FIGURES 1 and3, a set of these equalizers being disposed adjacent each set of ends ofthe two equalizer shaifts. The equalizer set has one lever arm 1S2rigidly secured to the end of the upper equalizer shaft 140 anddepending downwardly and a second lever arm 184 rigidly secured to theend of lower equalizer shaft 8t: and extending upwardly. The adjacentfree ends of the two lever arms 182 and 184 are articulativelyinterconnected by a set of short link members 186 pivotally connected tothe ends of the lever arms 1&2 and 184 by pins 188 and 190 respectively.Each equalizer set is identical to the one just described and will sointerconnect the equalizing shafts 88 and 140 that any movement upwardlyof the upper feed roll 130 must result in a similar downward movement ofthe lower feed roll 132.

To provide a strong resilient bias on the equalizing linkage tending tomaintain the feed rolls biased toward each other with sufficient forceto maintain a grip sufficient to force a log through the peeling drum50, and also maintain the log against rotation, each of the upper leverarms 168 and has forward extensions 192 and 194 rigidly secured theretoby welding, the extensions being bridged by a heavy plate 196 which isinterconnected as by a chain 198 to the forwardly extended end 260' of aheavy coil spring 202. The rear end of the heavy coil spring 202 has oneof the coils clamped between two anchor plates 26/4 and 206 supported ona cross bar 208 having its ends rigidly secured to the upper ends of thefront set of vertical channel beams 36 and 38, as by welding. The heavynature of coil spring 20-2 tends to resiliently resist any downwardbending deflection which will be caused if a log spreads the feed rolls130 and 132 apart. Thus the teeth 134 of the two feed rolls will befirmly pressed into engagement with a log being fed into the debarkingdrum 50 by the resilient bias of coil spring 202. An alternative leafspring biasing arrangement as shown in FIGURE ll2 can be utilized ifdesired.

A similar biasing and equalizing arrangement is provided for a set ofupper and lower outfeed rolls 212 and 214- which include drive shafts216 and 218 respectively, connected through universal fittings to drivenstub shafts 220 and 222 respectively. These two shafts 22d and 222 alsohave opposite directions of rotation arranged so that a log coming outof the rear of the debarking drum 50 and passing between the upper andlower outfeed rolls 212 and 214 will be engaged and driven between theintermediate vertical channel members 40 and 42. The log passes onto asupport tray 224 which is mounted for limited pivotal movement on arocking shaft 226 having its ends journaled in pillow block-s 228rigidly secured as by bolts to the rear flanges of the rear set ofvertical support channels 44 and 46. As a log is ejected from the rearof the debarking machine and slides over the tray 224, an operator willreceive the completely debarked log and carry it to an appropriatestacking pile.

Drive Mechanism As was briefly noted in the preceding description, oneof the debarking drum mounting wheels 52 is power driven and the fourinput stub shafts 164, 178, 220 and 222 to the log feed and grippingrolls 130, 132, 212 and 214 are also power driven. To this end, a doubletransmission arrangement is provided as an integral part of the portabledebarking machine. The aforenoted input stub shaft 2%] to the debarkingmachine is a part of this power transmission and, as has been described,is connected, through universal fittings and drive shaft 16, to a powertakeoff shaft on the rear end of tractor 14. It is to be understod thatan engine or other power source (see FIGURE 14) could be mounted on theportable chassis, if desired, but so long as a tractor is used to movethe machine, the tractor power takeolfs are readily available and reducethe cost of the debarking machine itself. On the other hand, if a small4-cylinder gasoline engine is provided on the portable machine, it couldbe hauled into forests with small automotive vehicles which do not haveauxiliary power takeoffs.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 8, input drive shaft 29 is the input memberto a primary change speed transmission 236 which can provide a straightthrough drive, neutral and several step down speed ratios to an outputshaft 238. Output shaft 238 terminates in a pinion gear 240 which mesheswith a ring gear 242 mounted coaxial with and drivingly connected todrive axle 244 for the peeling drum drive wheel 52. Ring gear 242 can bedirectly non-rotatably fastened on axle 244 or, as in the prototype ofthis machine, can be the ring gear on a conventional automotivedifferential in which one of the two axle drive gears is locked out andthe other is splined to the drive wheel axle 244. In any event, theprimary transmission 236 will directly control the speed of rotation ofthe peeling drum 50.

Primary transmission 236 will also indirectly control the speed of thelog feed rolls 130, 132 and 212, 214 through a drive V-belt 246 whichconnects between a small diameter pulley 248, non-rotatably mounted onprimary transmission output shaft 238, and a large diameter pulley 250non-rotatably secured to shaft 252. Shaft 252 is the input shaft to asecondary transmission 254, which can also provide a straight throughdrive, several step down drive speed ratios, neutral and reverse to thefeed mechanism. The secondary transmission output shaft 256non-rotatably carries a chain drive sprocket wheel 253 which, through anendless chain 260, drives a sprocket Wheel 262 secured on an input shaft264 of a series of drive transfer gears which are mounted in a case 266.This second transmission enables reduced feed speeds and also permitsreverse of the feed in the event the large end of a post jams thedebarking drum. Note: the maximum rate of feed should be correlated withthe drum rotaton so the feed distance which occurs during one revolutionof the drum does not exceed the width of the blade peeling edgemultiplied by the number of peeling blades.

The transfer case input shaft 264 projects through the case 266 and itsother end 268 constitutes a drive connection for the lower input feedroll 132, connected through a universal coupling and shaft 270 to thestub shaft 164. Shafts 270 and 164- interconnect in a slidable splinedfit. A gear 272 non-rotatable on transfer case input shaft 264 mesheswith an identical gear 274 on a second output shaft 276 which isconnected through a universal coupling to shaft 278. Shafts 27S and 178interconnect in a sl-idable splined fit to provide a drive for upperinput vfeed roll 130. The universal couplings and slidable fittings inthe drive connections between transfer gear case 266 and the input feedrolls 139 and 132 permit the vertical shifting movement of the feedrolls to accommodate variations in sizes of logs being peeled. An idlergear 282 in transfer case 266 meshes with gear 274 and a third drivegear 284 which in turn meshes with a fourth drive gear 286. Gears 284and 286 are identical in size and tooth number with transfer gears 272and 274. Gear 284 is secured on an output shaft 288 to drive outlet feedroll 212 and gear 286 is secured on an output shaft 290 to drive outletfeed roll 214. The connections between shaft 288 and roll 2 12 and shaft290 and roll 214 include universal couplings and slidable splinedconnections, as has been described for the input feed roll driveconnections, to permit shifting of the outlet feed roll axes as theyaccommodate the changing diameters of the logs. Note, all feed rolls130, 132, 212 and .214 will rotate at the same speed since the fourgears 272, 274, 284 and 286 are identical, and the speed of the feed canbe varied independently of the peeling drum speed by means of thesecondary transmission 254. By using cylindrical feed rolls, the variations in diameters of posts being debarked will not effect the feed ratedesired. Of course, it will be understood that the overall input drivespeed can be varied by the speed at which the tractor engine isoperated.

Peeling Drum The peeling drum 50 is a unitary subassembly which, as hasbeen described, is supported solely between the three rubber-tiredwheels 52, 54 and 56 (FIGURES 1 and 2) of which wheel 52 is positivelydriven through the primary transmission 236. Sufficient pressure of thedrive wheel tire 69 on the rim of drum 50 to assure a positive drivingengagement can be provided by the aforedescribed vertical adjustment ofthe upper idler wheel 56.

Drum 50 is essentially a heavy steel rim 3%, having its externalperipheral surface provided with an annular channel 3&2 which receivesthe tread of the three rubbertired wheels 52, 54 and 56, providing aconfining track which cooperates with the wheels to maintain the peelingdrum in an axial position between the input and outlet feed rolls.

Carried on the inner periphery of the drum rim. 3th is a group of barkremoving members or peeling blades 304. Peeling can be accomplished withone blade. However, it is preferable to have three or moreequi-angularly spaced blades to aid in keeping the log centered in thes,oss,512

drum and for purposes of balance of the drum, the disclosed drum 5t}including five such blades MP4. Of course, it will be understood that,as the number of blades is increased, the feed rate can be increasedwithout increasing drum rotation. FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 illustrate thepeeling blades 3%, their mounting arrangement and the coaction of thecentrifugally responsive weight assemblies with each blade, and FIGURESl and 11 show further blade details.

Each blade 394- is pivotally secured at one end to the inner peripheryof rim Still and to provide such mounting, a pair of axially spacedapart, apertured, steel plate ears 3% and 308 are secured by welding tothe inner side of rim 3th? for each blade 304. The apertures 310 and 312(FIGURE 7) respectively, in the two ears 3% and 3% are aligned and theaxis of alignrnent is parallel to the drum axis. Blade 3% is a curvedtempered steel strip, the blades in the prototype being made from leafspring material, with a pivot mounting eye 31 rolled in its outer endand has a width dimension at the pivoted end enabling a free close fitof the eye 314 between the ears 306 and 3% where it is pivoted on oneleg 316 of a 90 dog leg shaft Ealfi. Leg 316 projects through aperture316; in the front ear 3%, through the blade eye 314 and through theaperture 312 in rear ear 3%.

Shaft le g 316 is axially positioned in the ears 3% and 3% by engagementof a blade abutment fitting 32%, which is welded on leg 316 adjacent thebend of shaft 318, with the front side of ear 3%. A nut 322 and lock nut32% (FIGURE 6), threaded on the end of shaft leg 316 maintain the shaftin a free fitting pivotal disposition in the two ears. Blade abutmentfitting 3% extends transverse to the shaft leg 316 to a positionadjacent the peeling blade 3% and terminates in a lug 3 26 whichprojects behind the outer side of the blade 304, as best shown inFIGURES and 6.

In the non-operating position of the peeling blades 304-, their peelingend edges 339 may be disposed approximate but not quite on the drum axis(FIGURE 5). This limit position is deter-mined by a small curved stripof steel plate 332 (FIGURE 7) welded to the ears 3% and 308 and havingan abutment edge 334 adapted to engage the inner surface of blades 3%adjacent its eye 314 when the blades 3% reach their inner position, asin FIGURE 5. These stops 332 prevent the peeling end edges from engagingand possibly locking and becoming dulled when no log is passing throughthe drum 5%. In this non-peeling position of the blades 394, the otherleg 336 of dog leg shaft 318 is inclined approximately thirty (30)degrees outwardly of tangency to the rim 3% with the blade abutment lug326 in engagement with the blade 394. Disposed on the dog-leg shaft leg336 is an apertured weight member 338 whose position relative to thepivot leg 316 can be varied by adjusting a nut 34% and lock nut 34%threaded on the end of leg 336. With such an arrangement, rotation ofthe drum 59 causes centrifugal force to act on weights 333, tending topivot the dog leg shafts 313 counterclockwise, and biasing the blades3M- inwardly by engagement between the abutment lugs 326 and blades3524. When a log has been inserted into the drum 5t and the blades 3%pivot outwardly, the weights 338, depending upon the size of the log,will be swung inwardly to a point preferably where the shaft leg 336 isapproximately tangent to the rim, at which location essentially all ofthe centrifugal force developed by the weights about the shaft pivot leg316 will be applied through the moment arm provided by the dog le-glever to force the blades 3% inwardly. The structural correlationbetween the dog leg arm 336 and the blade engaging lug 326 should not besuch as to permit the weight to swing inward beyond a position where itwould be overbalanced by the centrifugal forces on the blade 304, and tothis end, an adjustable fitting can be provided between the abutmentmember 329 and shaft I0 leg 31o so the relationship can be varied tforuse with batches of different sized logs being debarked.

Peeling blade 3% has its inner end 330 formed with a bevel 343terminated in edge 344 (see FIGURE 11) which is disposed substantiallyparallel with the drum axis and is narrower than the width of blade 304at its eye 314. The blade 3% is curved from peeling end 330 toward theeye 314 in the direction of drum rotation (see FIGURE 5) and thecurvature is such that the inside portion of each blade 304 immediatelyadjacent the peeling edge 331i forms an angle at (FIGURE 10) and isapproximately radial to the axis of drum 50 when the blades are in aposition to peel a post approximately 3-4 inches in diameter. Thisrelationship becomes slightly inclined toward the direction of rotationwhen larger diameter logs are being peeled. However, for the mostsatisfactory operation, the angle or should not be obtuse and should beas close to 90 as practicable, although larger diameter logs have beensatisfactorily peeled when the angle a approximates 60. The rear edge346 of blade 334 is straight (FIGURE 6), whereas the front edge 358inclines from end edge 33% toward the front of drum 541 in the directionof rotation and is beveled as shown in FIGURE 6. This inclination andbeveling of the front edges 3% of blades 304 is not necessary but mayaid somewhat in a more rapid climbing of the blades 3% to the peripheryof a post when rotating in the non-operative position of FIGURE 5 andthe end of a log is introduced into abutment against the front edges ofthe blades.

FIGURE 11 illustrates, in enlarged detail, the nature of the actualpeeling edge 344 of blade 304. It is not a knife edge, which would tendto scrape and splinter the wood cells of the post, but is ground to asmall curvature permitting the blade to ride smoothly over the woodcells yet, at the same time, peeling and scraping all bark and allportions of the impervious membrane layer away from adjacent the woodcells. As an example, in the prototype machine, blades 304 were madefrom automotive leaf spring approximately 4 inch in thickness, the bevel34-3 was approximately forty-five degrees and the radius of curvature ofedge 344 was approximately inch.

The even angular spacing of the blades 364 tend to hold the log centeredin the drum 5%) and the peeling edges 330 of the rotating blades 3M-will scrape all of the bark off the log with minimum damage to the woodas the input feed rollers and 13 2 force a log through the drum andoutlet feed rollers 212 and 214 complete the feed movement. Theresilient nature of the spring lea-f blades 3% prevents splintering andtearing of the wood cells around knots in a log, which destructivesplintering does occur in debar-ker machines which use heavy and/orrigid blades. If the bark is hard to remove, depending upon the type oflog and/or weather conditions, the speed of the drum can be increased byincreasing the speed of the tractor engine or by changing thetransmission 236, at the same time decreasing feed roll speed by meansof the secondary transmission 254. If desired, springs can be addedbetween the weights 338 and rim 3% to keep the blades inward when notrotating and also to aid the centrifugal forces on the weights.

Blade weights.It is quite important for smooth and trouble freeoperation of the debarking drum that the masses of the blades, theweights and their structural connections be accurately positioned forproper balance about the axis of the drum 5i and in this connection, arelatively simple method to make accurate weights 338 was devised.FIGURE 9 illustrates the use of a weight fabricating jig 35h vmade froma flat metal block with a machined annular depression 352 in one faceproviding a central pilot boss 354 and a concentric annular shoulder 356 at the outer edge of depression 352. A short length of a smalldiameter pipe 358 is spigoted snugly over the pilot boss .354 and asimilar length of larger diameter pipe 36d spigoted within the annularshoulder 356. This arrangement assures substantial concentricity ofpipes 358 and 56b and while so positioned in jig 359, the space betweenthe two pipes is filled with molten lead 362. When the lead 362 hardens,the inner pipe 358 is reamed, or bored, to a desired accurate sizepermitting a slip fit of the weight 3 33 on the leg 336 of dog leg shaft318.

Modified Feed and Power Mechanism FIGURES l2, 13 and 14 illustrate amodified form of the debarking machine in which the heavy overhead coilspring 2l2 (FIGURE- 3), used to bias the inlet feed rollers, has beenreplaced by a leaf spring 376 secured to the lower portion of themachine. The essential difference in the inlet feed roll equalizinglinkage is that lower links 184' (corresponding to links 1'84) which arerigidly secured to lower feed roller pivot shaft 38, have extended lowerarms 372 and a round rod 374 is rigidly secured to bridge theextremities of lower arms 372. Rod 374 constitutes an abutment for thefree end of leaf spring 370 which is flexed to exert a force on the feedroller equalizing linkage tending to bias the upper and lower feedrollers 13b and 132 toward each other.

The fixed end of spring 379 is clamped between a block 376 and a flange378 of a mounting bracket 38% rigidly secured to lower frame beam 31'.When larger diameter, and hence heavier, logs pass between the feedrollers 13% and 13-2 the movement of the equalizer linkage shifts thespring abutment rod 374 a greater distance against leaf spring 374% todeflect spring .370 a greater distance which increases the spring biasto affect the added weight of the log. One advantage of this modifiedspring arrangement is that the weight of the log, which is appliedthrough the lower roller, is now applied directly through the lowerroller support to the spring without going through the entire equalizerlinkage.

A similar leaf spring arrangement is provided for the outlet feedrollers 21 2' and 214, wherein the lower lever arms 382 have rearwardextrusions 384 bridged by a cross rod 386 which flexes a leaf spring 388clamped to one of the rear vertical frame channels 46'.

This latter embodiment includes a preliminary post centering feed devicein lieu of the support roller 80 used in the FIGURE 1 embodiment. Asclearly illustrated in FIGURES 12 and 13, the centering device includesan upper toothed roller 4% and a lower spool shaped roller 401. Theupper toothed roller 400 is non-rotatably secured to a driven shaft 4492and journaled in the ends of forwardly extended lever arms 494 and 495which are rigidly secured, as 'by welding, to a rock shaft 406, whilethe lower spool shaped roller 401 is rotatably journaled on a shaft 4438which is rigidly secured in the ends of forwardly extended lever arms410 and 411 which in turn are rigidly secured, as by welding, to rockshaft 412.

To provide pivot journalling for the two rock shafts 406 and 416,immediately ahead of the corresponding rock shafts for the inlet feedrollers 130 and 132', sets of double pillow block bearings 420, 422, 424and 426 are provided on the front vertical columns 36' and 38 in lieu ofthe single pillow block bearings 142, 144, 9b and 22 shown in FIGURE 4.Each end of the rock shafts 406 and 412 are interconnected by equalizinglinkages 430 and 432, offset outwardly from the vertical channels 36'and 33' a distance sufiicient to clear the equalizing linkage of theinlet feed rollers (omitted from FIGURE 13 for clarity). Equalizinglinkages 430 and 432 operate in precisely the same manner as do thepreviously described feed roll equalizing linkages, assuring that thecentering 'rolls 400 and 401 will move in conjunction to accommodateposts of varying diameters and maintain the axis of any size post in anessentially centered relationship relative to the debarking drum 50'.The two centering rollers are biased toward each other by a coil tensionspring 434 having suflicient force to main- I2 tain the toothed roller4% in at least a light drive engagement with a post inserted betweenrollers'40tl and 401.

Immediately ahead of the free spool shaped roller 401 is a V-shapedtrough 438 having side flanges 440 and 442 welded to respective beams444 and 446, which in turn are rigidly secured, as by welding, to thenon-rotatable shaft 498. The trough 438 will thus shift downwardly uponseparatory movement of the two preliminary centering rollers 4%" and40-1 when any post is inserted therebetween.

As will be apparent from the showing of FIGURE 13, if the end of a postof any diameter capable of going through the debarking drum is placedinto the trough 433, the side walls of the trough will center the end ofthe post relative to the center line of the debarker drum and as thepost is shifted into the machine, it will be engaged by the center rowsof steel drive teeth 450 and 452 of the upper roller 400. These two rows450 and 452 of gripping teeth are spaced slightly further apart than theteeth. of the regular feed rollers and tend to maintain a later-allycentered relationship as the post is drawn between rollers 4% and 401 bypowered rotation of upper roller 4%. As soon as the post enters betweenthe two rollers 49%? and 401, they separate and in so doing the guidetrough 438 is lowered away from engagement with the post so the postwill roll on the lower spool roller 491.

Drive power is imparted to rotate the upper roller 40%) at the samerotational speed as the primary feed rollers are rotated, throughuniversally connected drive fittings similar to those described for thefeed rollers. FIGURE 14 illustrates one way in which drive power isimparted from shaft 264 through an auxiliary drive sprocket wheel 46%,sprocket chain 4532 and driven sprocket wheel 464. Sprocket wheel 464 isconnected through universal fittings and a slip joint to roller shaft402 in the manner described for each of the feed rolls illustrated inFIGURE 8.

This preliminary centering device offers several distinct advantagesover the single support roll embodiment. It overcomes the need for anoperator to force the post between the inlet lateral guide rollers. Noeffort is required on the part of an operator to guide the post into thefeed rollers which are quite a distance from the support roller. Iteliminates the need for the operator to continue to hold the post as itpasses through the inlet feed rollers, the drum, and into engagementwith the output feed rollers. Also, and of considerable importance, isthe fact that such a preliminary centering and guide device enables thedebarking machine to be used in an assembly line arrangement in which aconveyor belt can feed a post lengthwise into the centering trough 438and the machine will automatically accept and debark the post.

Referring again to FIGURE 14, it will be noted that the primary changespeed transmission 236 and input shaft 20 (of FIGURE 8) have beenreplaced by an auxiliary engine E, to illustrate schematically how suchmodification, which has been previously referred to, can be easilyaccomplished. In using an auxiliary engine modification, the primarychange speed transmission can be omitted and variation in throttlecontrol over the speed of the engine can be used to vary the speed ofrotation of the peeling drum, the feed speed rate being varied by meansof the previously referred to secondary transmission.

The foregoing description discloses an operative portable debarkingmachine with a relatively simple selectively variable drive train to thepeeling drum and to the feed rolls. It also discloses a simple, reliableand extremely rugged combined drive and mounting arrangement for apeeling drum assembly and improved direct acting centrifugallyresponsive elements for creating debarking forces on the peeling bladesof a peeling drum.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand 13 not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated bythe appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come the meaning and range of equivalency of the claimsare therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

1. A post debarker comprising: a frame structure; at least three wheelsjournalled on said frame structure disposed with their axes in spacedapart parallel relationship arranged substantially equilaterally withthe Wheels in a co-plan'ar relationship; a bark peeling blade assemblycomprising a channel rimmed drum rotatably supported and axiallypositioned solely by engagement of its rim with each of said pluralityof wheels, a plurality of peeling blades pivotally mounted on the saiddrum and having centrifugally responsive means engaging each of saidblades providing a centrifugal biasing force upon rotation of said drumtending to force said blades toward the center of said drum; meanscomprising portions of said wheels and said drum rim providingresilience in the axial and radial positioning of said drum; meansincluding at least one of said wheels for rotating said drum; and meanson said frame structure for guiding and driving a log through the centerof said drum.

2. A portable post debarker comprising: a wheeled base frame; a verticalsupport structure; at least three rubber rimmed wheels disposed withtheir axes in spaced apart parallel relationship arranged substantiallyequilaterally with the wheels in a co-planar relationship; a barkpeeling lade assembly comprising a flanged rim drum rotatably supportedsolely by engagement with each of said plurality of rubber rimmedwheels, a plurality of curve-d peeling blades with inclined leadingedges having one end pivotally mounted adjacent the periphery of saidblade assembly drum, and centrifugally responsive means engaging each ofsaid blades and providing a centrifugal biasing force upon rotation ofsaid drum tending to force said blades toward the center of said drum;log guide means foreand aft of said blade assembly; log driving meansincluding equalizer means to automatically vertically center the log,fore and aft of said blade drum assembly; lateral log guiding rollersspring biased toward each other and adapted to engage a log as it entersthe front of said rotating blade assembly and as it exits from the rearof said rotating blade assembly; transmission means mounted on saidframe providing drive power to said leg driving means and to at leastone of said wheels; and means on said transmission means adapted to beconnected to a power source.

3. A post debarker comprising: a support; a rotating peeling drumassembly mounted on said support for rotation about a horizontal axisand having peeling blades with cooperating centrifugally responsivemembers tending to force said blades inwardly toward the center of saiddrum assembly; upper and lower toothed post driving polls on horizontalparallel axes disposed forwardly of said rotating drum assembly andadapted to guide a post essentially coaxially into said rotating drumassembly; a rear set of toothed post driving rolls on horizontalparallel axes disposed rearwardly of said rotating drum assembly andadapted to receive a post from said drum assembly essentially coaxial ofsaid drum assembly; power transfer means on said support connected toand adapted to drive said fore and aft sets of rolls at a similar rateof speed; spring biased equalizing means mounting said rolls on saidsupport whereby the two rolls of each set can be spread vertically apartto automatically accommodate various diarneter posts and still maintaina vertically centered relationship of said post to said drum assembly;at least two sets of concave guide rolls for lateral guiding of a post,a set disposed in front and a set dis osed in back of said .drumlassembly; spring means connecting and biasing the lateral guide rollsof each set toward each other; and equalizer means carried by saidsupport and 14 mounting each said set of lateral guide rolls whereby thetwo rolls of each set can be spread laterally apart to automaticallyaccommodate various diameter posts and still maintain a horizontallycentered relationship of said post to said drum assembly.

4. A post debarker comprising: a frame structure; at least threepneumatically tired wheels journalled on said frame structure disposedwith their axes in spaced apart parallel relationship arrangedsubstantially equilaterally with the wheels in a co-planar relationship;a bark peeling blade assembly comprising a drum rotatably supported andaxially positioned solely by engagement with each of said plurality oftired wheels, a plurality of peeling blades pivotally mounted on thesaid drum and having centrifugally responsive means engaging each ofsaid blades providing a centrifugal biasing force upon rotation of saiddrum tending to force said blades toward the center of said drum; meanson said frame structure for rotating said drum; and means on said framestructure for guiding and driving a post through the center of saiddrum, comprising toothed feed rollers in front of and behind said drum.

5. A post debarker as defined in claim 4 wherein a preliminary postcentering means for guiding and forcing a post into said feed means ismounted on said frame structure in front of said peeling blade assemblyand said means for guiding and driving a post through said drum.

6. A post debarker as defined in claim 5, wherein said preliminarycentering means comprises a V-shaped trough to initially receive andcenter a post, equalized preliminary feed and support rollers and meansto lower the trough from engagement with a post when the post end entersbetween the preliminary feed and support rollers.

7. A rotating post peeling drum assembly adapted to be rotatably mountedand driven in a post deb-arking machine, comprising: a circular rim; aplurality of curved peeling blades having one end pivotally mountedadjacent the periphery of said rim and each of said blades curvinginwardly opposite to the direction of rotation and terminating in abeveled dull edge essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of saidrim; the leading edge of the curved portion of each blade being inclinedfrom the front of the drum toward the rear and inwardly; and meansadapted to engage each blade adjacent its pivot point comprising aplurality of centrifu-gally responsive means, each said centrifugallyresponsive means comprising an adjustable weight, a pivot shaft mountingsaid weight and pivotally connecting an associated one of said peelingblades to said rim, and a blade abutment member rigidly secured to saidpivot shaft and adapted to transfer a biasing force from the pivot shaftto said associated blade tending to force the blade inwardly toward theaxis of said rim upon development of centrifugal forces in said Weightsduring rotation of said rim.

8. A post debarker comprising: a support structure; a bark peeling bladeassembly comprising a rotatable drum, a plurality of peeling memberscarried by said drum and means creating a biasing force tending to forcesaid blades toward the center of said drum; resilient cushioning meansfor rotatably and axially positioning said drum; means for radiallydriving said drum; and means for non-rotatably driving a post throughthe center of said drum; said drum having a channel shaped rim and saiddrum positioning means and driving means comprising at least threeco-planar, pneumatically tired, equilaterally spaced wheels journalledon said support structure surrounding said rim with the wheel tiresfrictionally engaging in the channel of said rim and axially androtatably radially positioning said drum rim, with means to power rotateat least one of said wheels.

9. A post debarker comprising: a support structure; a bark peeling bladeassembly comprising a rotatable drum, a plurality of peeling memberscarried by said drum and means for creating a biasing force on saidpeeling members tending to force said peeling members toward the centerof said drum; resilient cushioning means carried by said supportstructure and rotatably mounting said drum with limited radiallyresilient give and limited axially resilient give of said d-rum relativeto said support structure, said cushioning means engaging and radiallyand, axially positioning said drum at least at three equally spacedapart positions around said drum; means, carried by said supportstructure and engaging said drum for rotatably driving said drum; andmeans carried by said support structure for non-rotatably driving a postthrough the center of said drum; each of said peeling members being ablade made of leaf spring steel and constituting a spring leaf.

10. A post debarker comprising: a support structure; a bark peelingblade assembly comprising a rotatable drum, a plurality of peelingmembers carried by said drum and means for creating a biasing force onsaid peeling members tending to force said peeling members toward thecenter of said drum; resilient cushioning means carried by said supportstructure and rotatably mounting said drum with limited radiallyresilient give and limited axially resilient give of said drum relativeto said support structure, said cushioning means engaging and radiallyand axially positioning said drum at least at three equally spaced apartpositions around said drum; means carried by said support structure andengaging said drum for rotatably driving said drum; means carried bysaid support structure for non-rotatably driving a post through thecenter of said drum; and preliminary post centering means mounted onsaid support structure in front of said drum and said means for drivinga post through said drum for guiding, centering and forcing a post intosaid post driving means.

11. A post debarker comprising: a support structure; a bark peelingblade assembly comprising a rotatable drum, a plurality of peelingmembers carried by said drum and means for creating a biasing force onsaid peeling members tending to force said peeling members toward thecenter of said drum; resilient cushioning means carried by said supportstructure rotatably mounting said drum and resiliently radially andresiliently axially positioning said drum; means carried by said supportstructure and engaging said drum for rotatably driving said drum; meanscarried by said support structure for non-rotatably 16 driving a postthrough the center of said drum comprising separable driven toothedrollers ahead of said drum and resiliently loaded equalizing meansmounting said toothed rollers to permit equalized separation as a postfeeds therebetween; and preliminary post centering means mounted on saidsupport structure in front of said drum and said means for driving apost through said drum for guiding, centering and forcing a post intosaid post driving means comprising a set of separable rollers and aV-shaped trough disposed ahead of said feed rollers with at least one ofsaid preliminary rollers being a driven toothed roller, and resilientlyloaded equalizing means mounting said preliminary rollers to permitequalized separation of said rollers as a post passes therebetween.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,406,047 Mikshel Feb. 7, 1922 1,436,373 Walk Nov. 21, 1922 1,887,908Tidblad Nov. 15, 1932 2,283,863 Achterman May 19, 1942 2,505,168Augustin Apr. 25, 1950 2,625,968 Eklund et a1 Jan. 20, 1953 2,646,092Kolpe et al July 2-1, 1953 2,694,425 Sko-glund Nov. 16, 1954 2,779,363Laughton J an. 29, 1957 2,794,466 Lefiler June 4, 1957 2,803,142Kauffman Aug. 20, 1957 2,815,776 Annis et al Dec. 10, 1957 2,843,168Lunn July 15, 1958 2,857,945 Brundell et al Oct. 28, 1958 2,861,446Patterson et al Nov. 25, 1958 2,888,966 Mongan et al June 2, 19592,893,453 Brundell et al. June 7, 1959 2,958,350 Peyton Nov. 1, 19602,983,291 Dick May 9, 196-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 313,213 Great Britain June10, 1929 215,700 Australia June 11, 1958 90,080 Germany Jan. 2, 18971,056,394 France Oct. 21, 1953 537,677 Canada Mar. 5, 1957

1. A POST DEBARKER COMPRISING: A FRAME STRUCTURE; AT LEAST THREE WHEELSJOURNALLED ON SID FRAME STRUCTURE DISPOSED WITH THEIR AXES IN SPACEDAPART PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY EQUILATERALLY WITHTHE WHEELS IN A CO-PLANAR RELATIONSHIP; A BARK PEELING BLADE ASSEMBLYCOMPRISING A CHANNEL RIMMED DRUM ROTATANLY SUPPORTED AND AXIALLYPOSITIONED SOLELY BY ENGAGEMENT OF ITS RIM WITH EACH OF SAID PLURALITYOF WHEELS, A PLURALITY OF PEELING BLADES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE SAIDDRUM AND HAVING CENTRIFUGALLY RESPONSIVE MEANS ENGAGING EACH OF SAIDBLADES PROVIDING A CENTRIFUGAL BIASING FORCE UPON ROTATION OF SAID DRUMTENDING TO FORCE SAID BLADES TOWARD THE CENTER OF SAID DRUM; MEANSCOMPRISING PORTIONS OF SAID WHEELS AND SAID DRUM RIM PROVIDINGRESILIENCE IN THE AXIAL AND RADIAL POSITIONING OF SAID DRUM; MEANSINCLUDING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID WHEELS FOR ROTATING SAID DRUM; AND MEANSON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE FOR GUIDING AND DRIVING A LOG THROUGH THE CENTEROF SAID DRUM.